Mohammad Usman

Brigadier Mohammad Usman, MVC (15 July 1912 – 3 July 1948) (also known as Usman Mohomad) was the highest ranking officer of Indian Army killed in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, who as a Muslim became a "symbol of" India's "inclusive secularism". At the time of partition of India he with many other officers declined to move to the Pakistan Army and continued to serve the Indian Army. He was martyred in July 1948 while fighting the Pakistani soldiers and militia in Jammu and Kashmir. He was later awarded the second highest military decoration for gallantry in the face of enemy, the Maha Vir Chakra

Brig Usman was born at Bibipur, Mau in Uttar Pradesh on July 15, 1912to Jamilun Bibi and Mohammad Faqooq Khunambir. Usman and his younger brothers, Subhan and Gufran, were educated at Harish Chandra Bhai School, Varanasi. At the age of 12, he had jumped into a well to rescue a drowning child. Later, when Usman made up his mind to join the Army, despite the limited opportunities for Indians to get commissioned ranks and despite intense competition, he succeeded in getting admission to the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

He entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1932 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and appointed to the Unattached List for the Indian Army on 1 February 1934. He was attached in India to the 1st battalion the Cameronians on 12 March 1934 for a year.

At the end of his year with the Cameronians, on the 19 March 1935, he was appointed to the Indian Army and posted to the 5th battalion The 10th Baluch Regiment (5/10 Baluch). Later in the year he saw active service on the North West frontier of India during the Mohmand campaign of 1935. He qualified as a 1st class interpreter in Urdu in November 1935.

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 30 April 1936 and Captain on 31 August 1941. By April 1944, he was a temporary Major. He served in Burma and was mentioned in dispatches as a temporary Major in the London Gazette 27 September 1945. He commanded the 14th battalion 10th Baluch Regiment (14/10 Baluch) from April 1945 to April 1946 At the time of partition, Usman being a Muslim officer in the Baluch Regiment, was under intense pressure from the newly born Pakistan’s leadership to opt for the Pakistan army. But so strong were his ideals of his motherland that even the ultimate bait of becoming the Pakistan Army Chief proved unsuccessful in convincing Usman.

When the Baluch Regiment was allotted to Pakistan, Brig Usman was transferred to the Dogra Regiment.

War had been thrust upon India when Pakistan sent tribal irregulars and its soldiers into Jammu & Kashmir. Even as the situation in the Kashmir valley stabilised the threat continued to be serious in the Jammu region. Brig Usman, commanding 77 Parachute Brigade, was sent to command the 50 Paraachute Brigade, deployed at Jhangar in December 1947. On 25 December 1947, with odds heavily against him, Jhangar was wrested by the Pakistanis. Located at the junction of roads coming from Mirpur and Kotli, Jhangar was of strategic importance, but more compelling was Brig Usman’s fierce pride in his men and determination to restore their honour. On that day the brigadier took a vow to recapture Jhangar – a feat he accomplished three months later, but at the cost of his own life.

He led his soldiers from front and in January–February 1948 repulsed a fierce attack on Nowshera and Jhangar, two highly strategic locations in Jammu and Kashmir. He was thence known as the Lion of Naoshera. However, he was killed in action while fighting the Pakistan Army and the tribal raiders on July 3 of that year. During the defence of Naushera against overwhelming odds and numbers, his fiery leadership had resulted in major defeat of the enemy at and around Naushera with 2000 casualties [about 1000 dead and 1000 wounded] while he suffered only 33 dead and 102 wounded. That battle earned him the title Naushera ka Sher. The same Pakistanis, who had earlier tried to motivate him to join the Pakistan Army and make him its chief, announced a then astronomical sum of Rs 50,000 as a prize for his head, in 1948. Unaffected by praise and congratulations, the Brigadier continued to sleep on a mat laid on the floor as he had vowed that he would not sleep on a bed till he recaptured Jhangar, from where, outnumbered by a large force of infiltrators inducted by Pakistan Army, he had to withdraw earlier.

The then Lieutenant General K M Cariappa (later General and C-in-C, Indian Army/Chief of Army Staff and years after retirement made Field Marshal), who had taken over as Western Army Commander, brought his tactical headquarters forward to Jammu to oversee the conduct of two important operations, the capture of Jhangar and Poonch. The capture of Jhangar was of special significance for Brig Usman. The operation commenced in the last week of February 1948. 19 Infantry Brigade advanced along the Northern ridge, while 50 Para brigade cleared the hills dominating the Naushera-Jhangar road in the south.

The enemy was eventually driven from this area, and Jhangar was recaptured. Pakistan brought its regular forces into the fray in May 1948. Jhangar was once again subjected to heavy artillery bombardment, and many determined attacks were launched on Jhangar by the Pakistan Army. Brig Usman however frustrated all enemy attempts to recapture Jhangar. It was during this arduous defence of Jhangar that Brig Usman was unfortunately was killed on July 3, 1948, by an enemy 25-pounder shell. His last words were ‘I am dying but let not the territory we were fighting for fall for the enemy”. For his inspiring leadership and great courage, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously.

The nation was so overwhelmed by the sacrifice of Brigadier Mohammad Usman that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his Cabinet colleagues attended the funeral of the hero — “the highest ranking military commander till date” to lay down his life in the battlefield. He was given a state funeral of a martyr.

An Indian journalist, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, wrote about his death, "a precious life, of imagination and unswerving patriotism, has fallen a victim to communal fanaticism. Brigadier Usman's brave example will be an abiding source of inspiration for Free India". Brigadier Usman was awarded the Indian military honour Maha Vir Chakra posthumously.

This year, 15 July, marked the 100th birth anniversary of Brigadier Mohammed Usman, [[Maha Vir Chakra]|MVC], the ‘Sher of Naushera’, as he got to be known after the battle of Naushera during the first India-Pakistan war of 1947-48. He was 12 days short of his 36th birthday when he laid down his life defending Jhangar, on 3 July 1948.

A man of simple taste and a teetotaller, Usman remained a bachelor throughout his life. He used to donate a large part of his salary to support poor children and pay for their education. Brig Usman was indeed an epitome of valour, a great patriot and nationalist.

He is buried in a grave in Jamia Millia Islamia campus in New Delhi.

Upender Sood a film director has produced a film on life of [Brigadier Usman.

His birth centenary was celebrated in 2012 by Indian Army at Jhajjar. A Paramotor Expedition was organized by Gorkha Training Centre in the memory of Brigadier Usman.